Chapter Five #2
“There’s more.” She looks at me, her eyes watery with tears, and I nod. “So much more. My birth name is Raven Walsh, but my legal name is Caroline Kane. I changed my name back to Raven Walsh when I left the Kane home.”
I nod. “I’d wondered why you and Caleb didn’t share the same last name.”
She lifts her shoulders and sighs. “I have so many reasons but none of that matters right now. What does is what happened the summer before I started college.”
I wait for her to continue.
“I thought I was alone in the house with my sister and when I came out of the shower, I realized I’d forgotten clothes.
So I stepped into the hall, intending to rush to my room.
Lance was there and he… grabbed me. I tried to pull away and he shook me hard.
He pushed me against the wall and was about to rip off my towel when Cara rushed into the hall and screamed for him to stop. ”
Raven doesn’t look at me but she pulls her hand back and I release her without question. I need to hold her but she needs distance.
I scrub a hand over my face, attempting to collect my anger and stuff it down deep.
During my time on the force, I saw plenty of crime victims. In the last year of rescuing runaways or kidnapped girls, I found traumatized females who needed my strength.
I handled it all. But Raven’s story feels more personal and I’m not sure how to help her.
“What happened?” I manage to ask.
“Lance told her we were just roughhousing.” Her lips twist in disgust. “I was so shaken up but I still pulled Cara into my room, locked the door, and she called Caleb.”
“Not your mom or dad?”
She gives me a wry smile. “Says a lot, doesn’t it? Even at twelve, Cara knew to call our brother first.”
“I take it Caleb believed you and your mother didn’t?”
Raven nods. “She said Cara must have misunderstood what she saw.”
My hands curl into fists by my sides. “So you didn’t press charges?”
“Oh, I did. Caleb took me to the police station but nothing came of it. Not enough evidence, they said. I have no doubt my mother used her influence to make it all go away. Instead of waiting for school to start in the fall, I left soon after. I moved in with my best friend, Emily Devlin, who lived in the city.”
Given how close my family is, I can’t imagine living in the home she grew up in or the isolation or fear she must have felt.
“I need a glass of water before I tell you more,” Raven says and pushes herself off the sofa.
Before I can offer to get her the drink myself, she’s walked away. I assume she needs a break, so I give her the time, waiting until she returns, two glasses in hand.
“I thought you might want one.” She places both glasses on the coasters. Hers is already half empty.
“Thank you.”
She smiles but it doesn’t reach her eyes.
I sigh. “Your story. It gets worse?” I ask, sensing her continued tension.
“Oh, yes. Lance had this obsession with me that not even my leaving put a stop to. One night, I was late getting home from the library. I came home to find he’d kicked open the door and Emily was lying on the floor, beaten and bleeding, and Lance was standing over her body.
Her dress was pulled up and he was about to rape her,” Raven whispers.
“Jesus.”
“I went crazy. I grabbed the bat we kept near the front door and hit him over and over. It didn’t seem to have an effect on him. He just stood there and took it until he finally turned and ran.” She begins to shake harder and I can’t stand it another second.
I reach out and pull her into me, wrapping her in a loose embrace meant to comfort. “Shh. That’s enough for now.” I don’t want her tortured any further. “Let’s take a break.”
She shakes her head. “No. I need to finish. Then I can stuff it all back in the box inside me where it belongs.”
“However you need to do this.”
She pulls herself upright and pushes away from me. “Lance was arrested and this time not even my mother’s name could get him off because they found DNA evidence on Emily and we both testified.” She blinks back tears, showing me once again how strong she is.
“Lance went to prison and he was supposed to be there for another year, but apparently he’s getting out in two weeks. Something about overcrowding and good behavior. And I know he’s not finished with me.”
She goes on to explain that her friend, Emily, moved and asked that they not keep in touch.
She didn’t want the reminders and though it hurt, Raven understood.
She moved out of their apartment, too, but somehow Lance has been able to keep finding her.
Sending his inmate buddies who were released to send his regards.
My fury builds with every word she tells me.
“It’s been quiet since I found the job and apartment with Zach but it won’t stay that way. He threatened me after the trial. He swore I’d pay. And once he’s out, he will do everything in his power to make sure I do.”
“Raven—”
“I promised Caleb I’d tell you everything because he thinks you can keep me safe, but that’s not why I came here tonight. I wanted to give you the opportunity to tell me to leave, to fire me or let me quit, so I don’t bring trouble to your business or your patrons.”
I blink in surprise. Is she so used to being alone and let down that she really thinks I’ll cast her out and leave her vulnerable to her psychotic brother?
“You’re not going anywhere,” I say in a too gruff voice.
“But the last person who I was close to paid a high price. Too high.” She stands and I don’t need to be a mind reader to know she’s planning to leave.
I rise, blocking her path.
“Now that you know everything, you need to let me go. It’s safer for you, for everyone around me.”
I let out a low growl. “You don’t need to protect me. I’m not Emily and I’ll be damned if I let you deal with that psychopath on your own.”
I’m already worked up over her painful past. Nothing will happen to her in the future. Not on my watch.